16 November 2012

Clashes at Palestine demo outside Israeli embassy in Dublin

» Mark Moloney

Gardaí attacked peaceful demonstrators with
batons outside the Israeli Embassy in Dublin on Thursday night during a protest
against the ongoing Israeli bombing campaign in Gaza.

At least 19 people have been killed and up
to two hundred wounded in the ongoing Israeli offensive against the besieged
coastal territory which has seen Israeli forces fire rockets, missiles and
heavy artillery into densely populated areas. In response Gaza militant groups
have fired more than 400 rockets and missiles towards Israel, killing three
people. There are reports that Israel is stepping up preparations for a
full-scale ground invasion.

Around 100 people gathered outside the
Israeli embassy on Pembroke Road on Thursday night to show their opposition to
the slaughter. The embassy was enveloped in a massive Palestinian flag by
members of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) while the crowd,
including a number of Palestinian residents of Dublin, chanted pro-Palestinian
slogans. During the protest a group of activists carrying a banner reading
“Stop the Slaughter, End the Siege” began a sit-down protest on the road
outside the building.

A short time later, as protesters were
standing up to leave the road, gardaí moved in and attempted to make a number
of arrests, detaining two protesters. The arrests further inflamed tensions and
there were scuffles between protesters and gardaí with some members of the
gardaí using batons against the crowd. Both protesters, who are members of Sinn
Féin Republican Youth were released without charge a short time later.

Another protest in solidarity with the
Palestinian people will take place at 2pm on Saturday, 17 November, at the
Spire on O'Connell Street, Dublin. Further protests are also planned for
Belfast, Cork and Limerick and activists are encouraged to check the IPSC
website (www.ipsc.ie) for details.